A Christian Library, Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. That the graces of God, in his children, may the more shine through employment.
3 THirdly, it maketh for Gods glory another way, when those grac… which he hath bestowed upon his children, do the more shi… through employment, and are the more seen and taken notice … by the World: surely if his justice get such honour by a Pharaoh; muc… more doth his mercy by a Moses: now Abrahams faith, Iobs patience Pauls courage and constancy, if they had not been tried by the fire of affliction; their graces had been smothered, as so many lights under Bushel, which now (to the glory of God) shine to all the World: Yea, no… only their vertues, but the gracious lives of all the Saints departed, d… still magnifie him even to this day, in every place we hear of them, an… move us likewise to glorifie God for them: wherefore happy man tha… leaves such a president, for which the future Ages shall praise him, and praise God for him. And certainly, if God intends to glorifie himself by his graces in us; he will finde means to fetch them forth into the notice of the World.
Who could know the faith, patience and valour of Gods souldiers, i… they alwayes lay in Garrison, and never came to the skirmish? Wherea… now they are both exemplary, and serve also to put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Pet. 2.15. Yea, without enemies, valour and fortitud… were of no use. Till we have sinned, Repentance either is not, or appear… not: Neither is patience visible to others, or sensible to our selves, till we are exercised with sufferings: whereas these vertues in time of misery and exigents, shine as stars do in a dark night. And what more glorious, than with Noahs' Olive-tree, to keep our branches green under water? Or with Aarons Rod, to bring forth ripe Almonds, when in appearance we are clong and dry? Or with Moses's Bush, not to consume though on a ligh… fire.
One Iupiter set out by Homer the Poet, was worth ten set out by Phidia… the Carver, saith Philostratus; because the former slew abroad through all the World, whereas the other never stirred from his Pedistal at Athens: so at first, the honour and splendour of Iobs integrity was confined to Uz, (a little corner of Arabia) yea, to his own Family; whereas by means of the Devils malice, it is now spread as far as the Sun can extend his beams, or the Moon her influence; for of such a Favourite of Heaven, such a Mirrour of the Earth, such a wonder of the World, who takes no… notice? Who could know whether we be vessels of gold or dross, unless we were brought to the Touchstone of temptation? Who could feel the odoriferous smell of these Aromatical Spices, if they were not pounded and bruised in the Mortar of affliction? The Worlds hatred and calumny to a… able Christian, serves as bellows to kindle his devotion, and blow off the ashes, under which his faith lay hid; like the Moon, he shines clearest in the night of affliction: If it made for the honour of Saul and all Israel, that he had a little Boy in his Army, that was able to encounter that selected great Giant, Goliah of the Philistims, and overcome him; how much more doth it make for Gods glory, that the least of his adopted ones should be able to encounter four enemies?
The World, 1 John 5.4.
The Flesh, Gal. 5.24.
The Devil, 1 John 2.14. and
The Death, Rom. 8.36, 37.
The weakest of which is
1 The Flesh,
2 The World.
Now the Flesh being an home-bred enemy, a Dalilah in Samsons bosome, a Iudas in Christs company, like a Moath in the garment bred in us, and cherished of us: and yet alwayes attempting to fret and destroy us: and the world a forreign foe, whose Army consists of two Wings,
Adversity on the left hand
Prosperity on the right hand
Death stronger then either, and the Devil stronger than all; And yet that the weakest childe of God only through fai…h in Christ (a thing as much despised of Philistims, as Davids …ing and stone was of Goliah) should overcome all these four… wherein he shews himself a greater Conquerour, then William the Conquerour; yea, even greater then Alexander the Great, or Pompey the Great, or the Great Turk: for they only conquered in many years a few parts of the World: but he that is born of God, overcometh the whole World, & all things in the World, 1 Joh. 5. And this is the victory that overcometh the World, even our faith, Vers. 4. And makes not this infinitely for the glory of God? Yea, it makes much for the honour of Christians. For, art thou born of God? Hast thou vanquished the World, that vanquisheth all the wicked? Bless God for this conquest. The King of Spains overcomming the Indies was nothing to it. If Satan had known his afflicting of Iob, would have so advanced the glory of God: manifested Iobs admirable patience to all Ages: made such a president for imitation to others: occasioned so much shame to himself; I doubt no… but Iob should have continued prosperous and quiet: for who will set upon his Adversary when he knoweth, he shall be shamefully beaten? This being so, happy are they who when they do well, hear ill: but much more blessed are they, who live so well, as that their backbiting Adversaries seeing their good works, are constrained to praise God and speak well of them.